Shoes and like footwear and components thereof



Nov. 4, 1969 P. A. GARCIA 3,475,837

SHOES AND LIKE FOOTWEAR AND COMPONENTS THEREOF Filed Aug. 4, 1966 I :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 SHOES AND LIKE FOOTWEAR AND COMPONENTS THEREOF Filed Aug. 4, 1966 P. A. GARCIA Nov. 4, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4, 1969 P. A. GARCIA 3,475,837

SHOES AND LI KE FOOTWEAR AND COMPONENTS THEREOF Filed Aug. 4, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Unitfid States Patent US. Cl. 36-245 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In connection with the production of an article of footwear, a moulded heel seat and shank unit and a heel member, the unit and the said member co-operating for relative location, the improvement being that the said unit is moulded about a shank stilfener which extends into the heel seat and has a projection from the underside of the heel seat and cross-pin means connect the said projecting portion of the shank stiffener and the he'el member below the heel seat to fix the heel member firmly in located position against the heel seat. The unit or this and the heel member are preferably moulded from synthetic plastic material and advantageously a pin is inserted into a passage in the heel member opening into the breast thereof through a hole in the said projection which hole is arranged slightly out of registration with the passage and free from the moulded material so that in driving the pin therethrough the heel member is tightly secured against the heel seat. The shank member is preferably embedded in the moulded material of the said unit so that the projection aforesaid is embedded in an integrally moulded non-circular protuberance or boss moulded on the underside of the heel seat but projects therefrom and is there apertured to take the cross pin under the protuberance or boss which non-rotatably engages a correspondingly shaped socket in the heel member.

The present invention relates to improvements in shoes and like footwear and a method for the production thereof.

In certain types of footwear it is the practice to embody in the footwear a unit which incorporates at least a shank waist and a heel seat and may or may not have a heel wall or counter portion, and to attach a separate heel member to the underside of the heel seat. Such a unit may be moulded from a synthetic plastics material. The shank may widen forwardly to or towards the toe region of the shoe. The heel member may likewise be mouded of a synthetic plastic material.

It has been proposed to embed in the moulded unit a stiff, e.g., metal, shank stiffener extending longitudinally through the shank and in the heel seat especially to have a stiffening effect in the arched shank.

Difficulty has been hitherto experienced in quickly and securely securing the said unit to the heel member.

According to the present invention a footwear unit is provided comprising at least a shank and a heel seat and adapted to co-operate with and locate a heel member, the unit having a reinforcing stiffener provided with a portion, projecting from the underside of the heel seat, through theme'dium of which the unit can be cross-pinned to the heel member.

Preferably the heel seat is formed with an integral protuberance or boss projecting from the centre region of .the underside thereof to engage a recess or socket in the upper face of the heel member, the body of the shank stiffener being embedded in the unit and the said projecting portion of the stiffener being at least partially em- 3,475,837 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 ice bedded in the said protuberance or spigot. Said portion preferably projects from the protuberance or boss and is apertured where it so projects to receive the cross pin for securing the heel member to the said unit. Cross-pinning may be effected after locating the heel member against the underside of the heel seat with the said protuberance or boss received in the said recess or socket by entering or driving a pin or like member (it may be a screw member or a plain pin) through the heel member from one wall, e.g., the breast thereof, for which purpose the heel member may be formed, e.g., moulded with a suitable passage, the said portion of the shank stiffener projecting into the recess or socket being apertured to accommodate the pin. According to another embodiment, the heel member is appropriately provided with a pin extending across the recess or socket and the said portion of the shank stiffener may be provided with an aperture having an open restricted mouth suitably shaped so that the unit can be snapped into engagement with the pin in pressing the heel member up to the heel seat or vice versa.

Advantageously the unit is moulded of a plastics material, e.g., polypropylene or other suitable thermoplastics material, and the shank stiffener is embedded in the unit in the moulding process.

The invention includes the combination with a unit as aforesaid of a heel member having a recessed or socketed upper face shaped and arranged to seat on the underside of the heel seat and preferably also moulded from a plastics material, e.g., a material as aforesaid, and to such a combination when the heel member has been operatively positioned in relation to the heel seat of the unit by means of a pin or like member engaging the aperture in said portion of the shank stiffener. In such a case the pin or like member may have been applied after assembly of the heel member and said unit, e.g., as aforesaid, or the heel member and said unit may be snapped into engagement as beforementioned if the heel member is provided with the pin in suitable manner before engagement of the heel member to the unit.

The aforesaid socket or recess in the heel member may snugly receive the protuberance or boss and may be of a shape to ensure effective location of the heel member in relation to the unit, especially to prevent relative rotation.

The unit may be provided with a covering material extending over and uniformly adhered to its upper surface and its underface in the shank region may have a raised longitudinally extending centre portion formed by longitudinally recessing its opposite side margins to receive turned over margins of the covering material.

A step may be formed between the forward transverse region of the underface of the heel seat and the rear of the said central raised portion. The heel member may be proportioned and shaped so that the upper edge of its breast will be somewhat spaced from the step when the heel member and said unit are assembled. The covering material can thus also be neatly folded in over the margin of the underside of the heel seat and over the step to be covered by the margin of the upper face of the heel member so that the marginally covered underside of the shank and the heel breast form substantially one continuous surface to allow the continuous outer sole material to extend smoothly from under the shank over the heel breast.

The said unit may extend forwardly of the insole waist and widen laterally to form a sole portion which prefably forwardly terminates approximately in the region of the forward part of the top opening of the shoe.

The said covering material may project forwardly of the forward edge of the said unit to facilitate securing the covered unit to the shoe lining.

In order that the invention may be the more clearly understood, reference is hereinafter made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the heel seat and shank unit and FIG. 2am underplan thereof. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the unit taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing a corresponding section of the heel member ready for assembly to the unit. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section. FIG. 6 is a section of the heel member showing the pin fitted. FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show modifications of the stiffener. FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of a modifica: tion. FIG. 11 is an underplan view showing the unit heel assembly after the shoe lining and the upper have been partially assembled. FIG. 12 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the completed shoe including an out sole secured to the toe liner, to turned under margins of the upper and unit shank portion edges covering, and extending over the breast of the heel as a continuous covering therefor.

The heel seat and shank unit 1 has been moulded of a thermoplastics material such as polypropylene to embody an embedded metal shank stiffener 2. in strip form. The upper surface of the said unit is shaped to the general contour of a foot, i.e., generally concave in the region of the heal seat 3 and in the forward portion 4 where the material widens laterally and generallythins down to the edge, so that the said portion can fiex somewhat freely from about the forward region to the shank 5. The shank stiffener extends through the shank and is arched to conform to the arching thereof and it rearwardly terminates in the region of the centre of the heel seat. At this region it has an angled end portion 6. In moulding the unit the underside of the heel seat is formed with a protuberance or boss 7 which is of approximately rectangular shape (rounded at the corners) as shown in FIG. 2. This protuberance or boss is formed of somewhat less depth than the angled end of the shank stiffener so that the end part 6a of the latter projects. This projecting part is provided with an aperture 8.

The underside of the heel seat is generally of slightly domed form within a marginal land 9. The shank on the underside has a longitudinally extending somewhat raised central zone 10 between marginal regions 11 and 11a which thin off transversely to the edges. This raised zone merges into the forward widened region 4 as shown in FIG. 2. The shank stiffener terminates at its forward end approximately where the widening commences. The rear of the said raised part terminates in a concave step 12 at its junction with the underside of the heel seat.

The heel member 13 is formed with a generally concave upper surface 14 to lie under the somewhat domed underface 14a of the heel seat and it is formed centrally with a socket or recess 15 shaped sectionally to conform closely to the shape of the protuberance of boss 7 and deep enough to accommodate the projecting part of the angled end portion of the shank stiffner and to leave the aperture therein free (FIG. 3).

With the heel member assembled to the stiffner, a pin 13a, FIG. 6, can now be inserted through the heel member by way of a passage 13b therein, e.g., one opening into the heel breast and the two parts positively prevented from coming apart during wear of the shoe fitted therewith.

The passage in the heel member need not exactly register with the hole 8 in the end portion 6a, e.g., it may become positioned out of registration by virtue of the heel member and the unit coverings, and/or other material being interposed between the concave upper surface of the heel member and the under face of the heel seat as is later described. This lack of registration may be advantageous to ensure that the pin has to be forced into the hole and thus tend to force the heel member tightly against the underside of the heel seat. The pin may have a conical or other suitably shaped leading end.

In FIG. 7 a modified form of the shank stiffener is illustrated. This shank stiffener has a rearwardly extending portion 2a reaching to near the rear of the heel seat. The angled portion in such a case is not for-med at the end of the shank stiffener but may be of a two-ply construction 6b formed by separate angled members appropriately located in relation to one another and riveted, welded or otherwise secured together. Alternatively, the double-ply member, as shown by 6c in FIG. 8, may be formed by doubling the material of the shank stiffener on itself. Another way, see FIG. 9, of producing the projection is by doubling back the rear end portion of the shank stiffener to form a two-ply construction 2b in the heel seat and a single-ply projection 6d. This given additional reinforcement in the heel seat which may in some cases be desirable.

Assembly of the heel member to the unit may be promoted (see FIG. 10) by providing the heel member with a pin 16 extending across the socket and formingjthe projecting part of the angled end portion of the shank stiffener with an opening 17 provided with a restricted and outwardly flaring mouth 18, so that relying for example on the lateral resilience of the end of the shank the stiffener, the unit and the heel member can be snapped together by forcing the pin to snap past the restricted mouth and enter the aperture.

FIG. 11 shows a partly assembled view where the heel 13 has been assembled to the said unit, the view being taken in under plan so that the tip 19 of the heel member and the heel breast 20 are shown, the upper concave edge 21 of the heel breast being shown spaced from the rear edge 12 of the raised zone 10 of the shank stiffener. The leather or other suitable material covering the upper face of the unit is marginally turned over the underside of the margin of the unit as indicated at 22. The said margin may be adhesively secured to the unit and passes over the step and where it extends at 22a around the heel seat is secured between the latter and the upper surface of the heel member. The covering material may project forwardly of the forward edge 23 of the unit, e.g., in the hatched region 24. The shoe lining 25 may be secured to the front edges of this forwardly projecting part of the covering adhesively, by sewing or in any suitable way at 26. The lining has an aperture at 27 and the upper 28 is sewn to the lining around the top opening of the shoe in the usual manner. In the usual way the free edges 28 of the upper are secured under the shank and the upper marginally turned in around the the sole region.

The outer sole 32 material can now be applied on the last and secured to the lining and over the turned in margins of the upper and to the still exposed portions of the unit and over the breast of the heel member in the usual way.

What is claimed is:

1. For incorporation in an article of footwear, the combination comprising:

a molded heel seat and shank unit, including a heel seat portion and a shank portion;

a heel member including a breast;

means defining cooperatingly shaped surfaces on the underside of said heel seat portion and the upper end of said heel member, engageable for locating said heel member in relation to said unit;

a shank stiffener, said unit being molded about said shank stiffener; said shank stiffener extending into the heel seat portion of said unit and projecting downwardly from said unit through the underside of said heel seat portion to define a shankstiffener projecting portion; and a cross pin means securely connecting said heel member to said shank stiffener projecting portion to'secure said heel member firmly against said heel seat portion;

wherein said cooperatingly shaped surface meanslinelude: an integral protuberance projecting centrally from the underside of said heel seat portion and at least partly embedding said shank stiffener projecting portion; and means defining an upwardly opening socket in the upper end of said heel member; said protuberance being received in said socket with said socket means peripherally engaging said protuberance;

and wherein said shank stiffener projecting portion protrudes below said protuberance within said socket; and wherein said cross pin means is received in said heel member, extending into said socket and, within said socket, securingly engaging said stiffener projecting portion protruding below said protuberance within said socket.

2. For incorporation in an article of footwear, the

combination comprising:

a molded heel seat and shank unit, including a heel seat portion and a shank portion;

a heel member including a breast;

means defining cooperatingly shaped surfaces on the underside of said heel seat portion and the upper end of said heel member, engageable for locating said heel member in relation to said unit;

a shank stiffener, said unit being molded about said stiffener, said shank stiffeners extending into the heel seat portion of said unit and projecting downwardly from said unit through the underside of said heel seat portion to define a shank stiffener projecting portion; and

cross pin means securely connecting said heel member to said shank stiffener projecting portion to secure said heel member firmly against said heel seat portion;

wherein said cross pin means comprises: an exteriorly convex lateral element exposed through the upper end of said heel member and means defining a downwardly opening, interiorly concave aperture on said shank stiffener projecting portion; said aperture means being snapped over said exteriorly convex lateral element to securely connect said heel member to said heel seat portion.

3. An article of footwear comprising:

a molded heel seat and shank unit, including a heel seat portion and a shank portion;

a heel member including a breast;

means defining cooperatingly shaped surfaces on the underside of said heel seat portion and the upper end of said heel member, engageable for locating said heel member in relation to said unit;

a shank stiffener, said unit being molded about said shank stiffener; said shank stiffener extending into the heel seat portion of said unit and projecting downwardly from said unit through the underside of said heel seat portion to define a shank stiffener projecting portion;

means defining a passage opening in the breast of said heel member;

cross pin means received in said passage and securely connecting said heel member to said shank stiffener projecting portion;

at least the peripheral edge of the heel seat portion of said unit having a covering of flexible material extending therearound;

a lining shaped to define a footwear toe;

an upper, portions of said lining and said upper being turned in under said shank portion and portions of said upper being turned in under said toe defined by said lining; and

an outer sole adhered to said article of footwear and extending to form a continuous cover for the breast of said heel member.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, further including means defining an integrally molded raised longitudinal center region on the underside of said shank region of said unit and means defining a longitudinal recess on each flank of said raised longitudinal center region, for receiving margins of said covering of flexible material.

5. The footwear article of claim 3 wherein the means defining cooperatively shaped surfaces for locating said heel member in relation to said unit comprises: said raised longitudinal center region terminating between said unit shank portion and said heel seat portion in means defining a generally vertical shoulder extending transversely of said unit, said shoulder being convex toward said heel seat portion; and means defining a correspondingly concavely curved surface portion on said heel breast adjacent the upper end of said heel member for engagement with said shoulder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,101,693 12/1937 Taraci 3676 X 97,681 12/1869 Norburn 3642 1,810,581 6/1931 Stark 362.5 2,187,103 1/ 1940 Spathelf 362.5 2,217,341 10/1940 Kamborian et al. 3676 X 2,259,322 10/ 1941 Parkhurst 3624.5 2,263,187 11/1941 Parkhurst 3624.5 2,322,297 6/1943 Jalbert 3676 X 2,333,721 11/1943 Hoyt 3676 X 3,009,270 11/1961 Nacht 3676 X FOREIGN PATENTS 559,073 2/ 1944 Great Britain.

ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 3634, 76 

